Geneva Study Bible Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste. Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.
I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer. I have heard {a} the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
(a) He declares that two things moved him to speak: that is, because Job seemed to touch him, and because he thought he had knowledge sufficient to confute him. Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; Though {b} his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
(b) His purpose is to prove Job to be a wicked man, and a hypocrite, because God punished him, and changed his prosperity into adversity. Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods. His children shall {c} seek to please the poor, and his hands shall {d} restore their goods.
(c) While the father through ambition and tyranny oppressed the poor, the children through poverty and misery will seek favour from the poor. (d) So that the thing which he has taken away by violence will be restored again by force. His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust. His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which {e} shall lie down with him in the dust.
(e) Meaning that he will carry nothing away with him but his sin. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue; Though wickedness be {f} sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
(f) As poison that is sweet in the mouth brings destruction when it comes into the body: so all vice at the first is pleasant, but God later turns it to destruction. Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth: Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:
Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. He shall suck the {g} poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
(g) He compares ill-gotten goods to the venom of asps, which is a dangerous serpent, noting that Jobs great riches were not truly come by and therefore God plagues him justly for the same. He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter. He shall not see the {h} rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
(h) Though God gives all other abundance from his blessings yet he will have no part of it. That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein. That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, {i} and he shall not rejoice therein.
(i) That is these raveners and spoilers of the poor will enjoy their theft but for a time for after God will take it from them, and cause them to make restitution so that it is only an exchange. Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired. Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.
There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. There shall none of his {k} meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.
(k) He will leave nothing to his posterity. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand {l} of the wicked shall come upon him.
(l) The wicked will never be in rest: for one wicked man will seek to destroy another. When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, {m} and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
(m) Some read, upon his flesh, alluding to Job, whose flesh was smitten with a scab. He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through. He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him. It is drawn, and cometh out of the {n} body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
(n) Some read, of the quiver. All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. {o} All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not {p} blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.
(o) All fear and sorrow will light on him when he thinks to escape. (p) That is, fire from heaven, or the fire of God's wrath. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.
The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. The {q} increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
(q) Meaning, the children of the wicked will flow away like rivers and be dispersed in various places. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God. This is the portion of a wicked man from {r} God, and the heritage appointed unto him by {s} God. (r) Thus God will plague the wicked. (s) Against God, thinking to excuse himself, and to escape God's hand. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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